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(St. Louis) The St. Louis Airport Rescue Firefighters (ARFF) will participate in a live-burn simulation as part of a training exercise this week on September 11, 12 and 13. The training will take place near the Lambert Airfield in a secured area off of Navaid Road.

The training exercise uses a Mobile Aircraft Trainer, a 50 foot fuselage capable of producing simulated fires including a fully engulfed aircraft. The mobile trainer is provided by the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute, which conducts more than a dozen firefighting courses annually across the country.

Kevin Carraway sets a piece of tile for a new mural at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

A new constellation of serene starscapes is beginning to emerge before travelers coming and going at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Up high on scaffolding, master tile installer Kevin Carraway is piecing the first of hundreds of watercut certamic tile pieces into a masterwork created by internationally renowned artist Amy Cheng of New York. One of the new murals measures 22 ft long. The art works being installed at the Terminal 1 MetroLink entrance are said to represent a connection between all living things and the cosmos. The project is part of Metro’s Arts in Transit program which commissions temporary and permanent public art works across its Metro and Metrolink networks.

(St. Louis) Tickets are now on sale for the premier social event of the year at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The 3rd Annual Art of Travel, on October 10, will celebrate Lambert’s newest art installations and raise more funds for future permanent and temporary exhibits.

The event will transport guests back to the awesome ‘80s in Lambert’s B Concourse (Terminal 1) with that decade infused across food, beverages and music. The popular silent auction, featuring some of St. Louis’ top artists, returns for another year. Guests will also be able to become artists themselves with a group participation art project for that evening. The event, from 6-8 p.m., is co-chaired by Solomon and Pat Smith Thurman, owners of the 10th Street Gallery. Tickets can be purchased at www.flystl.com/artoftravel. Guests will receive complimentary parking at the Airport with their tickets.

This year, Art of Travel is presented by Spire Natural Gas Fueling Solutions, a new venture by The Laclede Group and Siemens Industry, Inc. The first compressed natural gas fueling station from Spire will open just west of Lambert later this year. More than two dozen other partners are also sponsoring the Art of Travel which is helping to transform the Airport with local and international works bringing a new sense of place for visitors and local residents alike.

The inaugural Art of Travel event in 2011 helped provide immediate financial support for a multi-colored terrazzo floor medallion inlay, New Village, by St. Louis artist Alicia LaChance. It also funded new exhibitions at Lambert’s Meeting Place Gallery in the Terminal 1 Bag Claim. The second annual Art of Travel in 2012 raised more than $54,000. A majority of those funds will support a new art installation in the new Terminal 1 Atrium adjacent to the Airport’s new entertainment stage. An artist selection process is underway and will wrap up this fall with installation set for 2014.

Lambert Airport’s Bill Muehlheausler from Building Maintenance preps the wall heading down the escalators in Terminal 2 for a new paint job.

The old saying, "Out with the old and in with the new" is being played out in Terminal 2 as Lambert Airport’s building maintenance and paint crews prepare to spruce up the busy place. Terminal 2 is getting some much needed attention. Workers have removed the old tile that once took up the walls on the ticketing and lower levels and are painting them for a fresher look. Passengers will also notice in the coming months a brighter look to the restrooms. Some of the older tiles will be replaced giving the restrooms a contemporary decor.

Lambert got a special military visit this week with the arrival of a Navy Mercury E-6 (Boeing) Jet. It arrived in the St. Louis air space Tuesday. The 150 ft. long, all-white plane circled several times around the Airport and touched down on the runway for a few seconds each go around before taking off again. That’s called a "touch and go." The Mercury E-6 is a strategic communications plane for the Navy with a home base at Tinker A.F.B. in Oklahoma City. The visit was part of routine training for pilots and crew to be able to practice low level approaches and landing maneuvers at a variety of airports.

The conversion of some former Missouri Air National Guard (MOANG) facilities at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is underway for the creation of a new base for Jet Linx, a company that offers private jet services for its members.

Renovations have begun on two former military buildings to create a private terminal and hangar for Jet Linx St. Louis, LLC, an affiliate of Jet Linx Aviation of Omaha, NE. Currently, there are eight other Jet Linx locations across the country: Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Omaha, San Antonio and Scottsdale. The renovations sit on two acres west of Lambert’s Terminal 1 on the south side of the airfield. The St. Louis Airport Commission and the City of St. Louis approved a 10-year lease with the Jet Linx St. Louis, LLC. Following renovations, operations at the new Jet Linx facilities are scheduled to begin in September.

The MOANG facilities at Lambert were downsized in 2009 with a majority of operations relocated to Whiteman Air Force Base. In the past two years, Lambert Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge led an effort to explore new private uses for some of the facilities which were under a long-term lease by the government. MOANG leaders agreed to relinquish a portion of its leasehold and relocate additional military operations to other St. Louis facilities making it possible for new uses in a portion of the MOANG complex at Lambert.

“Working with Jet Linx and the Missouri Air National Guard on this exchange was a great example of government and private sector co-operation on a venture that benefits Lambert and the St. Louis Region,” Hamm-Niebruegge said.

“We are thrilled to be investing in the economic development of St. Louis and the continued expansion of Lambert International” said Jim Mauzé, Base President of Jet Linx St. Louis, “We pride ourselves on local operations and see tremendous potential for growth now and in the future.”

Passengers stop in the new Ebony News retail store to peruse the many magazines, books and souvenir items available for purchase.

The rollout of new themes and retail stores by the Hudson Group continues with the opening of Ebony News in Terminal 1 on Concourse C next to the C1, C3 gates. Hudson News teamed up with media icon Ebony Magazine to create a newsstand in Lambert Airport for travelers. Ebony was created by the late John H. Johnson more than 60 years ago. Mr. Johnson has since passed on, but his legacy thrives today under the leadership of his daughter, Linda Johnson Rice. Hudson and its business partners will operate 14 retail locations once it completes its build-out stores.

One of the world’s most recognizable sports franchise, Real Madrid players arrive in St. Louis to take on another soccer giant, F. C. Internazionale at the Edward Jones Dome.

Two of the most elite soccer clubs in the world will face off against each other in the European Soccer Match in St. Louis. Local and International media representatives were on hand to greet Real Madrid players’ arrival to Signature Flight Support. Real Madrid will take on F. C. Internazionale, better known as Inter Saturday, August 10 at the Edward Jones Dome. The match will mark the first men's soccer match at the Edward Jones Dome. Real Madrid features some of soccer's biggest stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil.

(Pictured left to right) Mika Wellner, Nicolas Goebert, Terra Levins, Liz Levins, Maggie Levins and Rob Levins pose for a family "team" photo. Wellner and Goebert will play in the 2013 International Games sponsored by the Ballwin Athletic Association and the City of Ballwin.

Lambert Airport’s Terminal 1 is bustling with activity as baseball players and participants arrive from around the world for the 2013 International Games. The City of Ballwin and Ballwin Athletic Association welcomed teams from Japan, Australia, Europe and the local area for the 2013 International Games, August 3 - August 11. The Levins will host Wellner and Goebert, both from Europe during their stay in St. Louis. Terra Levins said Goebert stayed with them last year. She added, "We call him our returning son. You really grow to love these kids, they become a part of your family." Approximately 80 students arrived in St. Louis to play in the popular International Games.

The newest retail shop to open by the Hudson Group will satisfy the sweet tooth of any passenger. Natalie’s Candy Jar opened Wednesday to rave reviews. The well known brand, Natalie’s, has every treat you can dream of with over 300 varieties of conventional, nostalgic, proprietary and hard to find candies plus candy related gift items. Passenger Paula Underwood made a sweet purchase before catching a flight to Tulsa, OK. Underwood called Natalie’s Candy Jar “fun and convenient." Passengers can find a large bulk selection of chocolates, sours, gummies, jubes and jells. There’s also a large selection of sugar-free treats and nuts for the health conscious traveler.